Bail Antilles rests his head in his hands. Obi Wan looks over star maps. They
sit at a large table. It has a holoprojector in the middle of it.

BAIL ANTILLES

We need more troops if we are to help the Jedi.

OBI WAN KENOBI

Over two hundred Jedi Knights were lost in our last attack.

BAIL ANTILLES

Have you heard from your apprentice at all?

OBI WAN KENOBI

Not yet. I don't know where he is.

Sabe (as the Queen) enters, flanked by her handmaidens.

SABE AS AMIDALA

Senator, have you made your decision?

Bail Antilles rubs his eyes. He is exhausted, and stressed beyond belief.

BAIL ANTILLES

Not yet. We just cannot spare the ships to liberate Naboo.

OBI WAN KENOBI

(to the queen)

What happened?

Obi Wan turns to the Queen. He reaches out and touches her mind. He
recognizes it isn't Amidala. He gets a puzzled look on his face. Sabe notices
and puts her finger to her lips to quiet his question. She gestures to Bail
Antilles, signifying that he doesn't know about the ruse.

SABE AS AMIDALA

The Mandalorians invaded Naboo. Most of our people escaped. I fear the
Gungans are all but dead.

OBI WAN KENOBI

The Council has decreed that we will destroy the cloning facilities. They
have appointed me General.

An AIDE opens the door to give a message to Bail Antilles.

AIDE

Lord Organa, the Senator from Chandrila wishes to speak with you.

BAIL ANTILLES

Thank you. I'll be there in one moment.

Bail Antilles sees the quizzical look on Obi Wan's face.

BAIL ANTILLES

It is my family name. I choose not to use it in the Senate to protect my
family.

The Aide brings in an encrypted disk. This is the descrambling code for the
tightbeam transmission.

Bail Antilles places the disk into the holoprojector on the war table. A
hologram of Mon Mothma appears.

MON MOTHMA

Greetings Bail.

BAIL ANTILLES

Mon Mothma.

MON MOTHMA

General Kenobi.

(to Bail)

You look tired.

BAIL ANTILLES

We don't have the strength to aid the Jedi in their cause.

MON MOTHMA

I have won us some allies. Admiral Ackbar has pledged the loyalty of the Mon
Calamari. Their starfleet rivals even that of the Galactic Senate.

BAIL ANTILLES

That is welcome news. But I fear that Palpatine will use our armies against
us.

MON MOTHMA

That is why we are not entering this conflict.

OBI WAN KENOBI

What?

MON MOTHMA

We support the Jedi in their bid for peace, but we are not willing to risk
our own safety and the safety of the galaxy by supporting Palpatine's war. I am
sorry, General Kenobi.

OBI WAN KENOBI

How can you claim to support peace and turn your back on the Jedi?

MON MOTHMA

There are more lives at stake than even you know, General.

SAB AS AMIDALA

The Mandalorians have already conquered Naboo. Is there nothing we can do?

MON MOTHMA

We wait.

BAIL ANTILLES

This is the only way.

OBI WAN KENOBI

You're wrong. And every life that ends because of your blindness will be on
your heads.

Obi Wan storms out of the room. He uses the force to throw open the doors.
They rattle back on their hinges.